House from A Christmas Story — Hotel in Cleveland

I took the Grand Kids here a couple years ago. It was fun. So this year they decided our Christmas Theme would be A Christmas Story. My husband wanted the leg lamp. So I went on Amazon and bought a 45” leg lamp. I paid Taxes an d Shipping. By the time it was delivered to my house the box was destroyed. So as I started to return it I noticed the side note that said email or call us. So I emailed Skyler at the warehouse. I told her of my situation and ask her if I drove a hour and a half could I just upgrade to the 50”? She said yes. I get there and Skyler and her co worker tell me we were all set. As I was getting ready to pick it up Skyler said, that will be an extra $30.00. I said told her no in the email we agreed if I drove the return back to the warehouse you would upgrade me to the 50”. She said, no and said I could take the 45” for free. I said well if I had known that I would have just sent it back through Amazon. So after that long drag out situation I go to the car and get $40.00. And take it in. The have no change and wants my debit card. By now the guy is talking to me like I am a five year old. And said I either give him my credit card or go get the correct change. I told him I am not from around here and I don’t want to drive around trying to find something to make change. So he said fine we will refund you the money. They kept the shipping and the taxes on the leg lamp. Told me to leave the warehouse and never come back. I told him they owe me $62.87. He told me to take it up with Amazon because they were not going to pay it. So as of now. I am out $62.87And no Christmas Leg Lamp. All because I order a leg lamp on Amazon. So beware if you buy anything from A Christmas Story gift shop and it gets destroyed on the way. They will not refund you...

Tour was very fun! Being part of family that LOVES this movie it was very nostalgic to go inside and “recreate “ movie scenes. I would recommend going on a weekday if possible. DO NOT go on a Saturday or sunday. It gets very crowded and you basically have to get in “line” for photos or wait for other people to finish.

Now i understand this is for families, as its a family movie. But if you have small children PLEASE PLEASE do not bring them if you cant watch them! It really put a damper on our experience trying to avoid this ladys 2 kids who constantly kept running (legit running) around picking things up and touching things we had already been told not to.

We drove 3 hours to do this. Wasn’t around the block. So make sure you get all the photos you want, go through EVERY room and take pics of everything. Better to take pics of everything and end up with extra than to forget something and the tours over.

After the first portion of the tour youll go into the backyard to see where Raphie shot his eye out. After that you walk across the street to the museum to see movie relics and props. Also learning more about the filming and characters.

Once finishing there you can head over to the gift shop for official merchandise. Surprisingly, they also had other Christmas themed items from National Lampoons Christmas vacation, Elf, rudolf and a few others. Located in the back of the gift shop is a ralphie penny press machine. He has 4 designs and theres another machine with 4 other designs. Very fun as fellow...

This was such a fun time! The family decided that a pilgrimage to the Christmas Story house will be a new Christmas tradition for us. There is the Christmas Story house itself. It is filled with replicas so it is interactive, in other words, you can touch stuff. You can run your hand up the leg lamp, sit in Randy's cupboard or put a bar of Life Buoy soap in your mouth. I wouldn't recommend that last one though. A kid did it while we were there and threw up. LOL! Next is the Christmas Story Museum. This is filled with actual props used on the set. So, it is look but don't touch. Throughout both you will hear alot of great behind the scenes stories. Then you have the Gift Shop where you can buy leg lamps, ornaments, secret decoder pins, and all kinds of trinkets. YOU NEED TO VISIT THE GIFT SHOP FIRST! THIS IS WHERE YOU BUY YOUR TICKETS! They do have a generous Veterans discount too, 20%, I think. The tour takes roughly 45 minutes with time to look around and snap pictures. They take roughly 40 people at a time on the tour. So, in some places you are packed in there arses to elbows. You may ask when you get there, 'Why Cleveland?' And 'How on earth did they ever find this house?' Fear not! You'll find out...